DPTI have announced the opening of both the Northern Connector & the Port Expressway Bikeways.

“The second section of the Tapa Martinthi Yala Shared Use Path which runs alongside the Northern Connector motorway, between the Bolivar and Southern Interchanges, will open on Sunday, 17 May, connecting and also opening the new Port River Bikeway. This complements the first section of the Tapa Martinthi Yala which opened between the Northern and Bolivar Interchanges last month.

Once complete the Tapa Martinthi Yala will also connect to the Gawler Greenway, providing easy access to Adelaide’s CBD. It is expected that this connection will be completed in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates and plan your bike ride at www.cycleinstead.com.au”

Our colleagues from the SalisburyBUG & UC&CChave already provided some pertinent feedback & comments, particularly with regard to Port Wakefield Road ‘crossings’ at Bolivar & Globe Derby Park (check thePort Adelaide Bike Forum for this discussion) and it seems likely that use of the pathway & feedback may lead to its further development with time. PortBUG has already suggested some options for improving connections to the Outer Harbour Greenway within the Port’s bike network. DPTI tell us that Cycle Instead has been updated to reflect this opening and that it is now possible to cycle nearly all the way from Semaphore to Gawler – 52km – on bike paths!

New Connections – Semaphore to Gawler by Bikeway!

Bike Plan Update: These new bikeways & connections – along the Port Expressway in particular – have been key features of Port Adelaide/Enfield’s 2015-20 bike plan which concludes mid-year. A new plan is under development and we hope will be available for community consultation in June or July. PortBUG is developing a draft Agenda as an initial contribution to this new Plan. Your contributions are most welcome – we will share this Draft Agenda with readers asap.

Australian health and transport experts have formally called on decision makers to enact urgent measures to support safe walking and cycling and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 100 health and transport experts have co-signed an open letter to government decision makers to create space for safer walking and cycling.

In a media release, Dr. Ben Beck (from the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University) said, “In order to provide safe physical activity and social distancing for adults and children to exercise and move about their neighbourhoods, we need decision makers to enable rapid roll-out of social distancing infrastructure to support walking and cycling.

“We have seen numerous examples across the world of governments introducing reduced speed limits, widened footpaths, emergency cycle lanes and the closure of roads. As yet, we have not seen a similar response in Australia, and we need to act now.”

‘Pop-up’ CV-19 bike lanes in Berlin, Germany.

The letter was sent to all Australian State and Territory Government transport ministers and co-signed by the experts which includes a host of academics from Universities across Australia along with professionals from major public health and planning organisations.

Leading cycling nations such as Germany have already taken steps. In Berlin for example, the reduction of motor traffic by 40% along with avoidance of public transport along brought a sharp increase in the numbers of bike riders, prompting councils to introduce pop-up bike space and, for example, repurposing lanes on roads into additional bicycle lanes.

Pop-up protected bikeway, Berlin.

Progress usually takes years but necessity has fast-tracked the traffic changes and it has just taken days to approved these temporary lanes and cycling spaces. The Berlin initiative prompted 133 other German cities to submit applications for pop-up bike lanes.

Other cities and regions across the globe such as Bogotá, New York, Mexico City, Minneapolis, Denver and Vancouver, to name just a few, have also made traffic changes to allow more space for pedestrians and bike riders to travel safely.

New Zealand also leads the way and under a Tactical Urbanism approach is providing 90% funding for cities who widen walkways and create temporary cycleways.

This current shift in transport is also an opportunity for Governments to implement permanent improvements and allow people to return to towns and cities where walking and cycling are efficient, convenient and safer. The return of society to normalcy will be a gradual and staggered approach allowing an easier adaption to improved transportation and infrastructure.

We Ride Spokesperson, Stephen Hodge says “Through the COVID-19 pandemic cycling has been a vital option for people to maintain physical activity and get around their communities in a way that avoids some of the perceived risks associated with mass transit. The result has been increases in people riding bikes and significant sales of bicycles and repair services.”

The time is now to rapidly open up safer walking and cycling spaces – not just temporary options but permanent improvements that will deliver lasting benefits for society. What action will we see in SA??

In our recent April blog post we mentioned the Rosewater Loop Project – a new shared-use pathway proposed by the Port Adelaide/Enfield Council (& currently awaiting State Government funding). The project involves conversion of the existing (now-disused) Rosewater Loop rail reserve to a shared-use path as well as extension of the existing Rosewater Rail Reserve pathway through what used to be the Gillman (Kingston) Marshalling Yards towards Eastern Parade.

Components of the proposed ‘Rosewater Loop’ shared-use pathway.

Both projects have been sought by the PortBUG for nearly two decades. The proposed Rosewater Loop Shared-Use Path will bring these two projects together to form one continuous pathway through Rosewater & Ottoway. This pathway will provide thousands of ‘transport-isolated’ residents with much-needed walking, cycling & disability access to local shopping & service centres, to the Port CBD & to the Outer Harbor Greenway and will likely be a great value in our current uncertain times.

It’s worth noting that this project will build on long-held community walking and cycling preferences & informal ‘access initiatives’!

‘Made’ pathways in the Gillman rail yard reserve.

For many years there have been clear signs that local residents have made regular use of informal pathways and access points on both of these routes (see above). In planning circles these signs are referred to as ‘lines (or pathways) of desire’ – that is, evidence of people-movement without relying on formal walking and cycling facilities – also sometimes called ‘made’ pathways.

It is to PA/E Council’s credit that they have noted & responded to these obvious signs of need, informal use and local preference!

In 2014 BUG Committee member (and town planner) Dave Case created an excellent photographic survey of the ‘made’ pathway extending from McNicol Trc towards Eastern Parade through the Gillman Shunting Yards (the northern section of the proposed Rosewater Loop) – check it out here.

Dave also documented a number of key ‘community-initiated’ access points on the old Rosewater rail loop fence line, notably at:

‘Informal’, community-made rail crossing at May Trc, Rosewater.

an informal ‘fence access’ crossing between Florence and May Terraces, giving convenient access to the pedestrian crossing across Grand Junction Road adjacent to the local Foodland & shopping & community centre (this crossing is currently being rebuilt & ‘formalised’ by Council.)

Rail corridor fence-line ‘access’, Edward Street, Rosewater.

a similar ‘fence access point’ at the end of Edward Street, giving walking access to the rail route down to May Trc

1. Woolnough/Semaphore Road Junction: Several years ago a tragic pedestrian fatality at the corner of Woolnough and Semaphore Roads prompted many requests that Council improve safety at this important footpath and bikeway road crossing. In particular the PortBUG asked that the speed of traffic turning right into Woolnough Road be constrained by the westwards extension of the existing median island.

Council has now commenced work on a major upgrade of this intersection, including traffic management measures for vehicles issuing from the adjacent service station and nearby Swan Terrace.

Key points identified thus far in the plan include:

installation of a raised (100mm high) pavement ‘platform’ across the Woolnough Road entrance and exit lanes (orange coloured in the plan above)

retention of bike and pedestrian ramps (reduced from 150mm to 50mm deep – better for walkers, prams and mobility devices)

an additional triangular traffic management island managing traffic turning right from Swan and right into Woolnough

right turns from the service station exit now banned (except for tanker exits about 1 x week – the new triangular island will be a ‘drive over’ type)

the existing linear median on the eastern side of the intersection (alongside the right-turn lane into Woolnough) will be extended westwards by approx 3 metres to constrain turning speeds.

Although the overall functioning of the redeveloped intersection will be more apparent when it’s finished, it’s encouraging that Port Adelaide/Enfield Council has taken on board the obvious safety issues PortBUG and the community have raised! These works cost about $230,000 and have been part-funded by the State Black Spot Program.

Proposed ‘Rosewater Loop’ Pathways.

2. Proposed ‘Rosewater Loop’: Council have informed us that they have applied for funding for a new ‘Rosewater Loop’ shared pathway (marked in red above) that combines two bikeways that we have long sought separately:

a new bikeway along the now-disused Rosewater Rail Line extending through Rosewater and across Grand Junction Road to loop around the northern margin of Ottoway

the extension of the ‘Gillman Railyard Pathway’, currently existing (in a formal sense) only as far as McNicol Trc. The track beyond this is an informal one ‘made’ by users walking to and from Ottoway, either all the way to Eastern Parade, or zipping into Ottoway via a ‘doorway’ cut in the rail line fence at the corner of Railway Trc.

Council expect to hear if they have the funding within a few weeks. If successful this shared-pathway loop will provide safer Active Transport access (for walking, cycling & mobility devices) for Rosewater residents to shopping and services on Grand Junction Road as well as to the Alberton Railway Station. It will also provide much more direct access for Ottoway residents to the Port Adelaide CBD via the Outer Harbor Greenway pathway.

New Regency Road Bikeways (marked in red).

3. Regency Road Bikeways: The BUG has long argued for off-road linkages between the Gawler Greenway route along Narweena Terrace and the East-West Connector route running from Port Adelaide, through The Parks to Days Road. There are now two new off-road pathways under construction along the road-side reserves on Regency Road that will provide this connection (marked in red above).

Both of the new pathways are on the northern side of Regency Road. One extends from South Road to Days Road past the TAFE, the other linking the crossing at South Road via a pathway in front of Coopers Brewery to Narweena Trc (& the Gawler Greenway). These pathways will provide useful linkages between key bikeways across our Bike Network.

4. New Port Adelaide/Enfield Bike Plan: The current Port Adelaide/Enfield Bike Plan concludes in June this year. Council has provided funding for development of a new Bike Plan over 2020-21. PortBUG is developing an agenda for the new Plan and our own community consultation strategy that we hope to share with readers asap. We hope to utilise a ‘local scenario’ approach that will map out key cycling locations and provide opportunities for your commentary based on your own day-to-day cycling experiences (see a DRAFT example below). Stay tuned!

Work has commenced on a final section of the Outer Harbour Greenway North– the section of the Greenway between the Harbor Loop and North Haven.

The small section involved is approx 100 metres of shared-use pathway running along the western boundary of Le Fevre Primary School from the corner of Semaphore Road and Mead Street to Shorney Street (which runs behind the school). It has been a project the PortBUG has promoted for several years!

Currently Greenway users heading north must cross from the Harbor Loop Pathway at the school crossing and then turn left along the narrow footpath until they can join the on-road route along Mead Street, either at the corner, at the Mead Street pedestrian crossing or at Shorney Street.

The new section of widened shared-use pathway will:

reduce risk of pedestrian/bike conflict

improve bike access and safety

provide more (and safer) options for bicycle users to join the route along Mead Street (away from the hazards of the corner ramps).

The PortBUG anticipates that the new pathway will make access to and from Le Fevre School easier and safer for students, and will (hopefully) encourage many more of them to ride their bikes and scooters to school. It’s not clear when the work will be finished but it already looks quite advanced with ramps and new kerbs already in place (see below).

New shared-use pathway looking south from Shorney Street.

This short stretch of pathway is a good example of the ‘finer grained’ infrastructure which the PortBUG will propose as a core target for the new PA/E Bike Plan, currently under preparation.

The first section of the new, shared use path that runs alongside the Northern Connector Motorway, will open on Saturday 18 April, between the Northern and Bolivar Interchanges.

The name of the path is Tapa Martinthi Yala, meaning “pathway to embrace today” in the Aboriginal Kaurna language and is being delivered as part of the new Northern Connector Project.

This first stage of Tapa Martinthi Yala to open is approximately 7.3kms and will link to the existing Stuart O’Grady Bikeway which runs alongside the Northern Expressway from Gawler to Waterloo Corner. This first section will run from Waterloo Corner (at its northern extent) and to the Little Para River Trail just south of Bolivar (at its southern end).

Once complete, the new Tapa Martinthi Yala will connect to both the new Port River Bikeway (Ed; we’ve been calling this the ‘PREXY Bikeway’) and the Gawler Greenway at the Northern Connector’s Southern Interchange, creating approximately 43km of continuous paths from Gawler to Port Adelaide.

The remaining section of the Tapa Martinthi Yala from the Bolivar Interchange to the Southern Interchange and the new Port River Bikeway, are in their final stages of completion and expected to be open for use in early May. More information will be provided soon.

For further information, including a map, please see attached PDF available here.

Thanks to Sara Morrison at the City of Charles Sturt for this update & the ‘network’ image above. A ‘Grange GreenLink’ bikeway was first outlined in PortBUG’s original proposal for an Outer Harbor ‘GreenLink’ in 2005. We hoped that it would follow the rail line through the Grange Golf Course precinct – but this has not proved possible. The route under construction is shown in orange on the map above, connecting to the Outer Harbor Greenway (green) and the Lakes Bikeway route (yellow). This new Greenway will complement and connect to current and future bikeways within Port Adelaide/Enfield’s Bike Network.

From CCS:‘The City of Charles Sturt are currently constructing an off road path on Tapleys Hill Road that will form part of the Grange Greenway. The Grange Greenway is a strategic walking and cycling route that follows the Grange Railway Line. As the railway line traverses the Royal Adelaide Golf Course, the Grange Greenway walking and cycling route is detouring around the Golf Course [Ed; along the western side of Tapleys Hill Road].

The shared path along Tapleys Hill Road is about 700 metres long (between Trimmer Parade and Meakin Terrace), 3.5m wide in total, with three new crossing points on Tapleys Hill Road. The path diverts behind bus stops to remove seating & shelters from the path of riders.

The project includes 16 new trees, new turf, new fencing and new lighting at crossing points. This was achieved with assistance from the Royal Adelaide Golf Club who enabled Council to occupy a portion of their land under a 99 year lease to widen the available verge.

The path on Tapleys Hill Road connects to a new path that was built on Meakin Terrace in 2019. The route will continue on road for part of Meakin Terrace toward Frederick Road. Consultation and design of a Frederick Road crossing point and route connection to the Grange Lakes path and Grange Railway station is planned for next financial year…

1. Progress on the PREXY Bikeway. Members of the redoubtable Uncool Cycling & Canoeing Club have alerted us to rapid progress on the long-awaited new bikeway running parallel to the Port Expressway (the ‘PREXY’) – see the very encouraging photo below. Over the past 2-3 years we have covered the development of the PREXY Bikeway and it’s various connections as information has come to hand – some informative links to relevant blog posts below (with extracts).

Newly surfaced PREXY Bikeway, looking west (Photo: UncoolC&CC).

September 2018 “The new off-road path will connect the existing path off Eastern Parade in Port Adelaide to the Northern Connector path. It will run side-by-side with the Port River Expressway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. Once it is up and running, cycling on the Port River Expressway between Port Adelaide and the Superway will be banned… It will connect to the new Northern Connector [NEXY] Bikeway as well as the Gawler Greenway so it will provide connectivity to Salisbury as well as Gawler and to suburbs along the way such as Mawson Lakes etc.”

November 2019“Both the PREXY & NEXY will eventually have their own Greenway bike paths which will connect to the Gawler Greenway via an underpass under the Port Expressway and pathways through the wetlands on the southern side. The Gawler Greenway will eventually extend all the way to Gawler, following the alignment of the Gawler rail line.”

PREXY Bikeway access at the western ‘harbor’ end remains a tad unclear but we believe will be at or close to the PREXY’s intersection with Eastern Parade.

Edit – Further Notes: Recent conversation with DPTI staff has provided a bit more information about the PREXY Bikeway now under construction:

The section from Eastern Parade to Perkins Drive is close to completion – note the green concrete on southern side of the road.

The connection from Eastern Parade [to the PREXY Bikeway] remains as is, at the signalised crossing but with a better path alignment off Prexy.

[During construction] …there’s a detour off PREXY between Hanson and Kidman Road using part of the Gawler Greenway and Cormack Road to avoid people cycling within the construction site.

The general alignment plan is as per the Port Adelaide Bicycle Forum’s header photo on the facebook (see top of post). The only update to this is to the very right (eastern end) which has already been connected to the next bit of Gawler Greenway via Magazine Road (not yet open).

No completion date as yet.

Note that DPTI staff caution cyclists seeking to enter or inspect the site – it remains an active construction zone & is unsuitable for public access!

Closure: The Linear Path adjacent to the Hindmarsh Cemetery.

2. Closure of the Linear Path Underpass at South Road: Charles Sturt Council have announced the commencement of work to upgrade the Linear Path underpass at South Road.They say: “The South Road Underpass and River Torrens Linear Park Path (RTLP) adjacent the Hindmarsh Cemetery has been identified for renewal in the City of Charles Sturts Transport Asset Management Plan.”

“In January 2020 signage was installed along the River Torrens Linear Park (RTLP) path notifying users that construction of the new path and bridge structure will commence in [mid]March 2020… with an estimated completion date of approximately December 2020.

“During the works there will be localised traffic management on Adam Street between River Street and South Road… access to the Carpark on the corner of Adam Street and River Street will [be closed] during construction as it will be the location of the Contractors site office. … Detours for bike riders will be enforced during this time.”

For updates and to view the detour map refer to the CCS website. Construction enquiries: Carmine D’Amico, 8408 1189.

The Pinda Street Greenway detour – ‘Bianco Site’ on the right.

3. Outer Harbor Greenway – Kilkenny. Charles Sturt Council have announced a rezoning proposal for land behind the Kilkenny Rail Station and between Wilpena Street and McInerney Reserve, also known as ‘the Bianco site’. The Council has had a long-standing arrangement to ensure a section of this site behind the station is reserved for an extension of the Greenway between Wilpena Trc and the Reserve.

This new pathway will provide direct access between the David Trc road crossing and McInerney Reserve, avoiding the current detour via Wilpena Trc, Pinda Street and the Reserve pathways. The relevant DPA proposals are to “ensure pedestrian connections to MJ McInerney Reserve and the station platform” & “allow for the location of the Outer Harbour Greenway through the subject land, adjacent to the railway corridor.” More details here.

DPTI have announced a major program of upgrades for The Port’s historic Birkenhead Bridge. Port Residents and others in the community are invited to two ‘drop in’ information sessions to meet the project team, learn more about the project and ask any questions you might have.

#1: When: Wednesday 26 February, Any time between 11am and 1pm.

#2: When: Thursday 27 February, Any time between 5pm and 7pm.

Where: Both sessions at the Port Adelaide Library, Community Room 2-4 Church Street, Port Adelaide .

From DPTI: ‘The $3.73 million State Government funded project will… replace the Birkenhead Bridge timber roadway deck with a Fibre Reinforced Polymer deck, and the eastern timber footpath with an aluminium footpath. Works will also include… steel protection works, bitumen surfacing and line-marking.’

‘These essential works will ensure the bridge’s long term structural integrity and safety for all users. The Birkenhead Bridge is a State Heritage item, which makes works more complex and increases project costs. Construction is expected to commence mid-year and be completed by December, weather permitting.’

Full details here. The Project Team have told PortBUG that no upgrades are planned on the western-side shared use path over the bridge. However bridge works may have some impact on pathway access. The Project Team intend doing everything they can to keep the pathway at least 50% open… but continual access remains unclear at this stage.

The City of Charles Sturt advise PortBUG that contractors will shortly be commencing the construction of three intersection upgrades on Belmore Terrace, Woodville Park. The section of the Outer Harbor Greenway involved is between David Terrace and Woodville Road. The planned works will involve conversion of the existing ‘driveway entry’ links (some of us refer to them as the ‘chicanes’ or ‘twisty bits’) into raised intersection treatments.

The Council tell us: ‘While the works and intersection closures will be staged, a cycling detour along Russell Terrace will be implemented for the duration of the project – 14th February to 26th May, 2020.’

The recent completion of the Outer Harbor Greenway after 14 years of planning & construction signals a ‘turning point’ in the development of the Port Adelaide/Enfield Bicycle Network!

We celebrated this completion with a BikeFest gathering on the Greenway & by screening the fabulous and inspiring MOTHERLOAD cargo bike movie. However this celebration also signals a step forward into a new era of bicycle planning in the north-west of the city!

Yes – there are still major bikeway projects to be realised, notably the Port Expressway Bikeway and the Gawler Greenway. But these are already funded, planned & ‘in the pipeline’.

What we now need to do is step beyond these projects & engage with a new level of Active Transport planning & network building that:

focusses much more on local destinations – schools, shops, services or employment – where people need to travel to

effectively connects local networks to major bikeways & public transport facilities

Our world today is characterised by increasingly levels of social and economic inequity which promise to fracture our community & put our children’s futures at risk. Our transport systems are also fatally dependent on fossil-fuels, a vulnerability which we need to recognise & step back from. Provision of both sustainable & equitable transport access is essential for Adelaide’s future yet this seems poorly understood at all levels of Government!

PA/E’s Satyen Gandhi

So what to do? Residents of the Port Adelaide/Enfield Council Area will shortly have a fantastic opportunity to address these issues as the council commences development of a new 5-year Active Transport Plan. This AT Plan will be part of a broader Integrated Transport Plan that will seek to balance all elements in our passenger & freight transport systems & network. PortBUG has met with Satyen Gandhi, PA/E’s newly appointed Team Leader-Transport. Satyen will be overseeing the development of the new Bike Plan & the Integrated Transport Plan & anticipates a number of opportunities for input from both your BUG & the broader community, commencing before June 2020. So stay tuned & we’ll keep you posted as the process develops.

Hi Folks, Back in June the PortBUG wrote to the Transport Minister seeking clarity about impacts that the new housing development immediately adjacent to Glanville Rail Station seems likely to have on:

pedestrian safety and disability access in and around the station precinct

bicycle storage

parking and passenger drop-off facilities.

We’ve at long last received a response from Minister Knoll which you can read here. Despite the Minister’s positive take on the new developments and careful study of the plans available online, it remains difficult to identify functional improvements for station users. Questions remain about:

whether access pathways (particularly on the eastern side from Semaphore Road) will be of sufficient width to ensure pedestrian safety & effective disability access?

the provision of effective, convenient & safe bicycle storage (especially given the limited provision for car parking in the new housing under construction)?

how the station precinct will cater for passenger drop-off and ‘park-and-ride’ needs with the loss of over 36 car parks with the demise of the east-side parking area?

It’s also unclear what fate is intended for the quite extensive community-planted native plantation on the corner of Causeway and Semaphore Roads! PortBUG will continue to monitor the situation and follow-up issues as opportunities arise.

A recent update notification from the Gawler Greenway Project advises us that works on the Islington to Mawson Lakes section of the Gawler Greenway are likely to be completed by mid-late October, 2019. It was anticipated that they’d be finished by July but works have been delayed by by inclement weather & by need for further site investigations. Previous PortBUG posts have sought to identify the proposed Greenway route between the City Parklands and the PREXY/NEXY/Salisbury Highway Junction (see below).

The new PREXY & NEXY bikeways are of course still under construction and the PortBUG will do our best to ensure that they are realised in the best way possible. Resolution of a number of issues on both appear unresolved, particularly with regard to the design of underpasses (subject to flooding) and what appear to be some rather convoluted route treatments (on the Northern Expressway path). Works outlined in the maps above & below have included:

As you may have gathered, we are – after 14 years – now very close to completion of the 13km Outer Harbor Greenway (connecting the Adelaide CBD & ParklandS Pathways to the Port Adelaide Waterfront). Sources tell us that the bikeway route will definitely be open by the end of September!

PortBUG and partner organisations are therefore very pleased to invite everyone to BikeFest: an Opening Celebration & Group Ride for the new Greenway (Plant 4 at Bowden) followed by the Adelaide premiere of MOTHERLOAD, the world’s first feature-length cargobike documentary (Woodville Town Hall). We hope to have a CargoBike ‘Show & Shine’, bike try-out opportunities, popcorn, refreshments & children’s activities. All activities and the film screening ARE FREE courtesy of the City of Charles Sturt! Printable Poster here.

Adelaide has a long association with the growth of the international cargo bike movement with the development of the ‘Ho Chi Minh’ GreenMachine & the Adelaide Longbike back in the 1970s/80s – a history we can all be very proud of!

1. SheRIDES Confidence-Building Program: Ladies – like to become a more confident and informed rider? Consider signing up for CyclingSA’s SheRIDES Program. “She Rides is a 6- 8 week structured riding and skills program that teaches women to discover their confidence and the joy of riding. For fitness to make friends for FREEDOM!” More details of SheRIDES program dates & locations here.

2. Outer Harbor Greenway ‘Opening’ a Step (or Two) Closer! When exactly is a bike path ‘open’? It’s an interesting question that many of us have pondered for a few years. The OHG between Port Adelaide and the City has been increasingly rideable and useful for a couple of years now, as key bits of infrastructure – notably the South Road overpass and the underpass at Park Trc – have been opened.

Some significant diversions around ever-present road works and pathway (re)building have remained, notably at McInerney Park, Cheltenham and the Gasworks Retort House site at Bowden (see below).

The new pathway route (dotted green line) being built along Drayton St & through the Retort House development site, Bowden.

New McInerney Pk Bikeway

We’ve recently been advised that not only is the pathway through McInerney Park at Cheltenham now open again, very soon the 150 metre section of brand new pathway through the Retort House site will be completed (apparently by the end of September).

A week or so ago commuter Gemma Kernich reported: “I had a quick peek on my way home. Concrete ramp and path at city end is finished, lights all up, subgrade all ready for bitumen for remainder of path. The stomemasons are still working on old siding/retaining wall, lots of reuse of stone and wall repairs, and there was some fancy recycled brick capping also going in at city end return/wall. It’s going to look schmik I reckon.”

Retort House Pathway – looking west. Photo: Hindmarsh Greening

DPTI have assured PortBUG that this new section of the OHG is now ready for new paving and will be completed and open for use by the Bike Fest Greenway Celebration & Film Screening event planned for Sunday October 13th (see previous blog post).

3. May Terrace Rail Crossing: For a year or so the PortBUG has been negotiating new bike facilities to be incorporated in the new Rosewater Local Area Traffic Plan (LATP). A key facility in this has been the creation of a formal bike & pedestrian crossing over the otherwise inaccessible fenced-off Rosewater rail reserve at May Terrace.

Gravel piled on the rail line at May Trc, preparing for completion of the new crossing. Photo: Debra d’Avigdor

This crossing will replace an ‘informal’ crossing (ie; holes snipped through the fences) and allow residents of Ottoway and cyclists on Grand Junction Road to access the local street cycling network through Rosewater North to the Outer Harbour Greenway and thence into the Port Adelaide CBD. PortBUG is negotiating a similar formalised rail crossing further to the east at Railway Trc, Ottoway to allow similar access to the (currently informal) pathways through the Gilman railyard reserve and thence to the Port CBD.

Put this date in your diary right now & join us for the Free Screening & Adelaide Premiere of MOTHERLOAD, an exciting crowd-sourced documentary film exploring the cycling revolution, ‘active’ families & the power of Cargo Bikes in countering isolation & despair in this climate-challenged age!

BISA & partners will lead a Cargo-Bike Convergence & Community Bike Ride just prior to the film’s screening to celebrate the opening of the new Outer Harbor Greenway. More convergence & ride details at the BISA f/b page shortly!

The Big Bike Film Night has announced that their film festival event is coming to Adelaide in August. In essence it is a short film-fest style event that celebrates cycling in all its glorious shapes and forms.

The 2019 collection is described as “an absolutely breath-taking range of short bike films – from mountain bike, to road, commuters and travel, personal journeys and triumphs.”

The program offers a wide and dynamic variety of appealing storylines, projects and thrills not only for bike fans, but also all movie goers.

In the lineup is the riveting Australian documentary LOWEST TO HIGHEST which follows five friends with disabilities attempting a world first human powered ride from Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre 2150km to Mount Kosciuszko, IT IS A MUST SEE!!

The Synopsis (see below) details some of the 11 incredible films that will be showcased The program will run for just over 2 hours (including an interval).

Comments from NZ film goers: “Great inspiration to just get out & explore no matter your ability or skill “ “A banger of a film line-up!” “Best yet!!” “Must see for everybody” “Inspiring, humbling, entertaining and simply awesome”

Belmore Terrace, Woodville Park, site of proposed improvements to the Outer Harbor Greenway.

The PortBUG was recently involved in discussions with Charles Sturt Council – along with WestsideBUG and BISA – about proposed changes to the Outer Harbor Greenway path at the junction of Belmore and David Terraces, Woodville Park.

PortBUG has long been a critic of this section of the Greenway pointing out the awkward and (we thought) hazardous location of the pathway entrance/exit close to a ‘high-speed’ corner and the narrow and abrupt transition between road and path.

In the words of CCS engineer Chris Bentick, “the existing shared path link at the intersection (pictured below) is relatively short and directs Port-bound cyclists into the intersection, bringing them into conflict with drivers turning right and left into Belmore Terrace from David Terrace.”

The City of Charles Sturt have now come up with a plan to reduce any hazards involved by:

extending the pathway & shifting the ramp several metres to the west (making use of an existing car parking bay)

There have obviously been a number of things to consider in managing bike /car interactions at this point. Chris says:

“A design solution has been proposed that involves extending the shared path/bicycle path segment further along Belmore Terrace to increase the separation between the turning areas for cyclists and motor vehicles… Design features of note:

Relatively high entry angle for bicycles at access to Belmore Terrace for safe entry and exit speeds.

… Once design is finalised, we intend to construct in coordination with works at Belmore Terrace intersections in 2019/20.”

Detail of exit/entry point and ramp at Belmore Trc.

As Cris says: “It really is a matter of striking the balance between safety and convenience. When we create conditions for fast and convenient entry and exit to the path, we also create conditions by which path users are less able and likely to adequately respond should there be conflict with motor vehicles in Belmore Terrace. We regard the ultimate design as maintaining that balance… We will be upgrading the lighting in the area next year, so lighting near the ramps will be significantly improved.”

In our view these are all important benefits for bike users and we congratulate the CCS staff involved for their thoughtful and committed approach to improving the Greenway experience for bicycle users. We believe that there are a many places along the Outer Harbor Greenway that will benefit from this 2nd phase of refinement as its use by the community grows and need for improvement become more obvious.

Entrance driveway – Eastern Glanville Station car park. Station platform just to the right of the sign.

As Port Adelaide, Semaphore and other local residents may be aware, DPTI has posted signs at the entrance to Glanville Rail Station’s eastern car park indicating that it will soon be closed permanently with the start of the ‘Fletcher’s Slip’ housing project.

Closure area cross-hatched in red.

The signs tell us that:

virtually all of the eastern car park will be taken up by the housing development

the only east-side access remaining from Semaphore Road will be the relatively narrow paved footpath next to the rail reserve fence (courtesy of Cedar Woods who now own the footpath too!)

There seems no acknowledgement of Active Transport issues or provision for safe bicycle access to the Station from the eastern side, nor does there appear to be room allocated for bike storage and ‘bike-’n-ride’ facilities. Thirty-five ‘park-’n-ride’ car-parks will be lost, including 2 reserved for people with disabilities!

Although some closure of a section of the car park appeared in the original ‘concept’ plans we have seen, it had not been clear to us that so much space would be lost from the station precinct. Most of the plans we’ve seen show the development area following (or paralleling) the curved line of the existing boundary fence, leaving most of the car park area intact! There has been (as far as we know) no specific community consultation regarding this closure and its likely community impacts!

how will safe and convenient drop-off points for train travellers be maintained or improved?

how will the long-discussed (& more-or-less ignored) issue of adequate & secure bicycle parking at the station be progressed with the loss of space for a bike storage enclosure?

Bicycle users can currently enter the car-park from the shared-use path via the paved driveway. This will close!

PortBUG has spoken to the Development Manager for the Fletcher’s Slip Project. He has told us that:

DPTI are responsible for all signs and ‘public notifications’

he anticipates a public notice period of 2 weeks prior to closure (suggesting closure on about Monday 24th June).

the developer, Cedar Woods now own all of the ‘car park’ land up to the fenced edge of the rail reserve and between Semaphore Road and the station platform entrance

the SUP along Semaphore Road will remain open (barring occasional short-term closures in the interest of public safety)

pedestrian access on the existing footpath along the rail reserve fence will be retained

the Project will provide 2 x disability-compliant access points on the eastern side of the rail station (one at each end of the platform).

The BUG has indicated our concerns about these outcomes, notably:

1. Bicycle/Active Transport Access: It appears likely that we are not going to see Aust Standard bike access to the eastern side of the rail station. The Development Manager talked of ‘maintaining the status quo’ by retaining the existing Station Footpath. The current pathway is less than the required 2.8m width for a shared-use pathway in this context, is severely impacted by tree roots with extremely uneven surfaces, inadequate ramps, tightly radiused corners and significant ‘predictive’ user conflict points.

The Station Pathway needs significant redesign and reconstruction if it is to approach an appropriate standard as a multi-user station access pathway (too narrow for multiple user access, poor sight lines, junction orientations and angles). Given the extensive incursion of tree roots it also seems highly likely that all of the established trees along the rail reserve fence will be removed!

Station fence & established trees (& tree roots) on the right of Station Pathway. Note uneven surfaces & root incursions!

One of several instances of root damage to the Station Pathway.

It is clearly not possible to meet Australian Standards for station access here simply by retaining the existing pathway! It is important to consider that this single pathway must of necessity function as a shared-use & multi-user access point (disability and mobility-device access, pedestrian and more vulnerable community access, bicycle users, child-carriers and prams etc.)

2. Current & Future Bike Parking: The area of land excised from the station precint removes space needed for both a secure ’swipe-card access’ lock-up bicycle parking enclosure and for more casual bike-parking racks. Currently there is little or no room for such facilities on the western side of the station precinct (this being taken up by a bus interchange, access pathways and a small commuter car park). Provision of secure and adequate bike parking at Glanville Station has long been the subject of discussions with both DPTI and the PA/E Council. It must be asked how the sale of this land to Cedar Woods has occurred without reservation of space for secure bike parking and storage?

Adelaide’s secure ‘swipe-card’ bike parking enclosures.

Passenger Drop-off, Pick-up & Car Parking: The closure of the eastern car park removes 35 car parks (2 disability) and a safe and convenient drop-off point for passengers arriving by car. There is no way that car passengers can safely alight on Semaphore Road. The only other potential drop-off and pick-up access points are the bus interchange and small 25-space car park on the western side of the station platform, accessed from busy Causeway Road. The interchange is currently reserved for buses with no allowance made for cars delivering or collecting passengers. Significant redesign would be required to make a shared-space possible (if indeed there is room to do so). The separate western commuter carpark next door is extremely narrow (essentially single-lane along its entire length and certainly with a single car width driveway), has only 25 spaces, no specific designed drop-off point and is difficult to enter and leave with driveway access requiring a sharp 180 degree left turn. This driveway is also quite a dangerous exit point onto a high-speed road with frequent heavy vehicle traffic.

The closure of the eastern car-park will have very significant and deleterious outcomes for train travellers and station users generally. Overall station access is likely to end up substantially restricted and less secure, especially for those:

with physical, sensory and related disabilities

arriving or departing by car

commuters arriving by bike or leaving their car or bicycle for the day.

From PortBUG’s view point that this station closure is clearly the result of poor planning, a lack of public consultation and inadequate consideration of community needs. At the very least we’d like to see The Fletcher’s Slip Project widen and resurface the proposed eastern access footpath, improve sight lines and widen turning radii at the corners. The redevelopment should also provide adequate space on the eastern side of the station precinct for lock-up bike parking as well as open-rack bike storage.

We would also like some assurance that both PA/E Council and DPTI have a plan to redesign the station precinct to ensure that the needs of all public transport users can be met – now and into the future – particularly with regard to the likelihood of greatly increased train travel and the inevitable growth of ‘cross-modal’ travel behaviours (‘park ’n ride’, ‘bike ’n ride’ etc).

We have more photos posted at PortBUG’s facebook forum which further illustrate our concerns. The PortBUG has communicated these to the PA/E Council and will write to both the developer and the Minister for Transport in the coming week, asking that urgent consideration be given to both public consultation and improving development outcomes for all public transport users.

To be closed: the Semaphore Road entrance (left) to the eastern car-park. The closure extends from behind the photographer to beyond the parked cars and 100metres to the left.

Today PortBUG members took a brief reconnaissance road trip up to Gawler to check out the route of the Northern Connector (NC) Bikeway and try to figure out its potential connections to established bikeways and bike networks. Although there was no sign that construction of the NC Bikeway itself has started, DPTI have assured us that it will ‘connect directly’ to both the Dry Creek and Little Para Bikeways so we wanted to see how this might happen! We also wanted to better understand potential for connections at the Bolivar, Waterloo Corner and Port Wakefield Interchanges, the latter of course joining up with the existing Northern Expressway (NE) bike path.

Proposed PREXY Bikeway & link to NC Bikeway.

And we wanted to revisit the junction of the NC Bikeway with the proposed Port Expressway (PREXY) Bikeway and the Gawler Greenway route! Driving up the PREXY out of Port Adelaide we were able to observe the ‘haul road’ on the left which – we are told – is where the PREXY Bikeway will be built once the NC is finished.

At the NC/South Road Junction the PREXY Bikeway bumps around to the north for a bit and under the new NC roadway before returning to join the NC Bikeway on the eastern side. From this point riders can head either to the north or south. North along the future NC Bikeway and south – apparently through a rather dodgy looking culvert – and via the wetlands to join the Gawler Greenway route (heading either into the City or back north to Mawson Lakes).

The ‘Wet’ Dry Creek Trail Underpass.

From the PREXY we joined the Port Wakefield Road, turning left past the salt fields to inspect the Dry Creek Trail underpass. We had a quick look at this notoriously ‘wet’ underpass and confirmed that – as is so often reported – the one-way drainage valve and pump aren’t doing their job well.

There was a lot of marine detritus, gravel and lumps of rock on the pathway as well as around 100mm of slimy water. Riding through it all would be fun on fat tyres but for those on narrower tread – definitely a hazard!

Bike underwater…

Continuing on behind Globe Derby Pk to the White’s Road Wetlands, a quick walk brought us to the junction of the Dry Creek Trail ‘diversion’ and the Little Para Trail coming in from the NE adjacent to a gated bridge.

This gated bridge across the Little Para Creek is only a 100 metres or so from the Northern Connector route. This bridge – we presume – is the point at which DPTI will join everything up – maybe the ‘Little Para Interchange’?

White’s Road Wetlands.

Incidentally the White’s Road Wetlands are very special and worth visiting – very serene (despite the machinery in the background) and lots of birdlife.

Interchanges on the Northern Connector Route.

We rejoined Pt Wakefield Road and headed North, checking out potential bike network linkages at the Bolivar, Waterloo Corner and Port Wakefield Interchanges. Quite how linkages to the NC Bikeway at these points might be achieved remains unclear but we’ll be suggesting to DPTI that they be considered. At Bolivar we also had a look at one of SA’s few ‘Dutch Roundabouts’, inspecting the the separated paths and crossings up close!

Gawler Bicycle Network.

Poetic Justice Cafe.

Following the route of the Northern Expressway Bikeway we ended up in Gawler and had a quick look at its nicely designed bike and pedestrian infrastructure before an early lunch at the really excellent ‘Poetic Justice Cafe’ in the main street (‘recommended cycling tucker’).

Conclusion: There’s a lot of exciting stuff happening at this northern end of Adelaide’s Metro Bike Network, with potential to establish some very useful commuting and recreational links – congratulations to DPTI for making it all happen. We’re told that most of these proposed new bikeways are funded (so will eventually be built) apart from the Gawler Greenway from Dry Creek onwards. For commuters the Gawler Greenway seems a bit more direct (if less picturesque) bike route into the City than the Northern Connector. We need to make our voices heard to ensure it gets funded and then built!

Hi Folks, Each year BUG members have several meetings with Council staff aimed at reviewing goals and priorities from the Bike Plan and figuring out how to best continue development of the PA/E Bike Network. Last month we met to finalise budget discussions for the 2019-20 budget period, learn of Council proposals and plan new infrastructure out to early 2021. You can read a summary below…

Progress with 2018-19 Bike Plan Projects:

The current Bike Plan projects (funded in 2018) have either completed planning or will start soon. These include:

a pedestrian refuge on Main North Road near Marmion Street

a crossing on Lady Ruthven Drive, North Haven, joining the end of Outer Harbor Greenway (on Flaminia St) to the Coastal Way Bike Path

Rosewater Rail Reserve Project:The local Rosewater community has asked that the ‘unused’ railway reserve between Grand Junction Rd and the Outer Harbour Line be developed as a bikeway. PortBUG has raised this possibility in the past as a valuable opportunity to link Ottoway and Rosewater North to the Greenway and rail services. Council supports the proposal and will write to DPTI to progress it.

Bonus News Item: Recently DPTO staff have assured us that the new Outer Harbor Greenway link between East and Chief Streets (through the Gasworks Retort House site) will be completed by September this year. Hooray!

1. The OH Greenway Takes Off! (via PortBUG’s facebook group) DPTI have informed us that at long last work on the missing 150-metre ‘gasworks’ section of the Outer Harbor Greenway (between Chief and East streets, Bowden) is about to commence. Construction is expected to start in May (& possibly even this coming week) and to be finished by July, weather permitting.

The route is that shown in DPTI’s September 2018 bulletin through the now-demolished blue-stone wall on East Street and along the old gasworks railway siding to join up with the already constructed bicycle overpass on Chief Street (see below). DPTI tell us that it’s taken many months to resolve this section of the route due to the complex remediation and demolition work required. No doubt more information will follow in future DPTI updates.

The New Chief Street Bicycle Overpass.

PortBUG’s 2005 ‘GreenLink’ proposal.

The Outer Harbor Greenway was first surveyed and proposed by PortBUG in August 2005 (nearly 14 years ago) when we published a detailed illustrated Green Link Proposal for a secure bike route between The Port and the Adelaide CBD!

Although there are still a few issues to be resolved (notably the possibility of a more direct pathway adjacent to Kilkenny Railway Station), it will be truly wonderful to at last have a fully open, continuous and secure route for cycling the 14km between the Port’s Waterfront and the Adelaide Parklands & CBD!

The PortBUG congratulates DPTI & successive governments, the Port Adelaide/Enfield and Charles Sturt Councils, and all those community members who have worked so long towards this fantastic outcome!

At long last the Outer Harbor Greenway takes off!

2. Port Dock Rail Station Cycling & Walking Detours. PortBUG reps met recently with the Port Dock RS Project team recently to discuss the impacts that the 7-8 month project is likely to have on walking and cycling access along the section of the OH Greenway passing through the Rosewater rail reserve (between Edith Street, Rosewater and Lipson Street in the Port). Both PortBUG and the Project Team are keen to see any disruption or detouring of the route minimised to ensure that the most direct access can be maintained for commuters and for residents seeking access to the shops and services in the Port’s CBD. The Project Team has undertaken to explore whatever options (including temporary rail line crossings) might be available to achieve this and will keep PortBUG and residents informed on a regular basis. The Project has a new website here.Construction is expected to start later in 2019.

Port Dock Railway Station (looking South).

3. Labor Supports Investment in Active Transport! The PortBUG does its level best to maintain a politically independent and bipartisan approach. However it’s impossible to avoid the fact that a Federal Election is rapidly approaching and that the Labor Party has made a major announcement committing new funds ($260M) for bicycle infrastructure and active transport if elected. To summarise:

a Shorten Labor Government will invest $260 million to upgrade the nation’s cycling paths to encourage more people to ride bicycles to work or school & cycling tourism

Labor’s National Bike Paths Strategy will provide the largest ever investment in bike paths from the Federal Government & underscores commitment to active transport.

Labor will partner with state and territory governments or local councils to unlock even more investment and make a difference to the health, safety and overall amenity for people living in cities and towns across Australia.

Labor has also undertaken to ‘target missing links’ & the ‘growing tourism sector of cycling tourism’, and develop a national guide for cities providing detailed national and best practice designs and resources for the effective design and delivery of bicycle infrastructure. While we’ve been unable to identify a similar Liberal Party funding commitment, we do note that they have made extensive commitments to transport infrastructure generally. The Greens have also developeda vision for active transport.Sounds like good reasons to think carefully about your vote on May 18th!

4. Port Adelaide/Enfield ‘Bike Budget 2019-20’. The PortBUG will shortly commence its discussions with Council regarding budget commitments and target projects for the 2019-20 financial year. This will likely be a final and important phase in the implementation of the Port Adelaide/Enfield Bicycle Strategy before it is replaced by a new Integrated Transport Plan. Accordingly we are keen to see investment maximised in the Plan’s remaining key projects to achieve the best outcomes for the PA/E Bike Network. We’ll be workshopping goals over the next few weeks so please keep an eye on these blog posts and our facebook forum as we’ll be asking for your comments and opinions wherever possible!

1. Port Adelaide/Enfield’s Bike Budget 2018-19 & 2019/20: In October, 2018 (and following cuts to the State Bike Fund) PA/E Council approved a somewhat reduced bike budget for the coming year (2018-19). New works currently nominated include:

a pedestrian refuge across Main Nth Rd near Marmion St (to connect to the Enfield Bike Direct Network).

a new link on the Outer Harbor Greenway across Lady Ruthven Drv from Flaminia St, Osborn (this will connect the OHG-North to the existing Coast Path Bikeway)

a new link between Osmond Trc and Sudholz Rd, Gilles Plains (giving safer bicycle access to the TAFE campus).

Council will be putting in $160K to these projects. Previously nominated projects that have been omitted from the 2018-19 budget include:

improvements to the Outer Harbor Greenway along Mead St, Birkenhead (providing a safer transition from the path to the roadway)

some short shared-use pathway links on the Mersey Road Bikeway at Osborn (connecting the pathway to Furniss Crt and Mascotte Drv)

PortBUG will be writing to DPTI about the possible inclusion of the Regency Connector in major new projects on South Road. PA/E Council has suggested that other projects omitted from 2018-19 as well as some others could be considered in 2019-20. Some additional projects also suggested have included:

line markings along the Inner Harbor wharf to accommodate the OHG pathway as far as Timson St

sharrow markings on Pym St (a section of the Gawler Greenway)

a new shared-use pathway along Nelson St between Jenkins St and Semaphore Rd (ie; connecting bikeways across the eastern end of the ‘old GMH factory’ site).

PA/E Council is asking the community for further project suggestions – please forward any ideas to us asap and we’ll pass them on!

Newly Released Port Dock Rail Station Plans.

2. Port Dock Railway Station – Community Information Session:

When: Sunday, 17 March 2019. Drop in any time between 11am and 2pm

Where: National Railway Museum, 76 Lipson Street, Port Adelaide

All Welcome!

The construction of the new Port Dock rail station and spur line will have a significant impact on section of the Outer Harbor Greenway through the Gillman rail yards. The PortBUG will attend this open day and seek to have constructive input to the design and community consultation. Please come along and make your voice heard!

PA/E’s Kerry McConnell.

3. Changes at PA/E: Following some restructuring in the Council’s Transport Team, Kerry McConnell is now Senior Transport Advisor and will also be responsible for all Bike Plan development.

Kerry, who is an experienced traffic engineer, will also be working on the new Integrated Transport Strategy, likely to be completed over 2019/20. This new Strategy is likely to demand a much more detailed and ‘finer grained’ approach to Active Transport and bicycle planning in the future. PortBUG looks forward to working on this with Kerry!

“Faster Mum, faster, I want to see the Port’s new Integrated Transport Plan!”

Hi Folks, There’s just time for a few updates before we fire up the BBQs and fill the Eskys.

Anneka, PortBUG’s most recent ‘follower’.

1. Our ‘Followers’ – A Big Thankyou! First I’d like to welcome all those who have signed up to follow the PortBUG website blog and/or the BUG’s facebook group over 2018 and support the BUG’s work – Anneka (right) being our latest. We now have about 68 people following the BUGBlog and 81 following the BUG Forum. Each person who ‘follows’ the BUG strengthens our argument for better bike facilities! ‘Participatory Democracy’ or – if you are a child of the ’60s – People Power!

People Power!

Both the BUGBlog & our Forum are great ways to keep your ear to the ground re. the ongoing development of Port Adelaide/Enfield’s bicycle network. They also provide the BUG (and indeed the Council) with opportunities to seek feedback on new initiatives and plans. And of course the BUG Forum is a great place to ask questions about that new commuting route or how to best get from A to B within the PA/E Bike Network – or indeed anything else about using bikes and Active Transport! So Welcome & a Big Thankyou to all!

Be Safe, Be Seen reveals the findings of SA cycling casualty research; providing local, detailed information on where and how crashes most commonly occur, and how best to avoid them.Every attendee will receive a safety gift pack containing: a saddle bag, backpack cover, slap bands, and free three month membership to Bike SA. Be Safe, Be Seen is highly relevant to all levels of cycling experience, including the most experienced cyclists and motorists. The presentation contains surprising and essential information for anyone using SA roads. The PortBUG recommends Be Safe, Be Seen for young folk who will be riding to school, uni or work in 2019!

3. Can You Help with Bike Parking at the TDU? Members of the PortBUG committee have put up their hands to staff a secure bike parking enclosure for those visiting the TDU First Stage finish and Street Party in The Port on January 15th. Unfortunately there’s only a few of us and we really need 3 or 4 more volunteers! If you’d like to contribute some of your time between about 11am and 6pm on the 15th – and maybe get to see the Stage Finish and party close up – please let our secretary Sam know asap: portadbug@gmail.com.

4. The Year Ahead: The coming year is shaping up to be an exciting one for utility bicycle use and Active Transport for residents of PA/E. We’ve already see the re-invention of 1.2km Hart Street, Semaphore as a unique bicycle and pedestrian-friendly ‘mixed traffic’ boulevard and gateway to both The Port & the Semaphore Foreshore, with:

Over 2019 we hope to see some DPTI and our Council undertake several new and adventurous initiatives including:

the completion of the final pathway stages of the Outer Harbour Greenway (between Chief and East Streets in Bowden) which should then make it the pre-eminent route for commuting between the North-Western suburbs and the City!

the start of work on new bikeways in and around the proposed Port Dock Rail Station

a start on work on the new PREXY (Port Expressway) Greenway and the PA/E sections of the Gawler Greenway (both will open up new secure routes to Salisbury, Mawson Lakes etc)

a new bike/ped rail crossing on May Trc at Rosewater (opening up access to shopping facilities and services for residents of Rosewater).

Goodbye Zak…

In 2019 we’ll also see the appointment of a new Bicycle Officer at PA/E Council, replacing the ever-helpful Zak Valiff (who has moved on to the Town of Gawler). Having an identified Bicycle Officer on staff has been an important step for Council. It has assisted Council to sustain its focus on implementing its Bike Plan! The position has also provided a reliable point of contact for both the BUG and for the public when questions or complaints arise about the Bike Network or the Council’s plans!

The most import step forward in 2019 will probably be the commencement of the PA/E Council’s exciting new ‘Integrated Transport Plan’, which will replace the current Local Area Bike Plan (which will conclude in 2020). We’re assured that this ITP will have a major focus on both Active Transport and community consultation and will pave the way for Active Transport to become a ‘bottom-line outcome’ as The Port plans for its transport future!

The PortBUG wishes all our readers and supporters – and indeed all of PA/E’s residents – all the best for Christmas and the Coming Year!

1. PortBUG & the Tour Down Under: On January 15th, 2019 the first stage of the Tour Down Under will be finishing in St Vincent Street, Port Adelaide. The Finish will be accompanied by a Street Party & Festival. PortBUG will be partnering with the PA/E Council to provide concierge services for a secure bike-parking area for visitors & to encourage them to arrive via the Outer Harbor Greenway and other bike routes. Please consider coming by bike and making use of the secure bike parking area. You may even get a selfie with Tour legend Mario Cipollini– ‘Super Mario’ – arguably the most entertaining cyclist in professional cycling’s recent decades. Cipollini will be coming to race in the Challenge Tour on the 19th. It’ll be a great day and a great week!

Photo: Rob Daly.

2. Greenway Closer to Completion: Port Adelaide’s own 13km direct secure bike route into the Adelaide CBD is a step closer to completion with DPTI starting work starting on the penultimate bit of bikeway between the new bike-bridge over Chief Street in Bowden and the Bowden Station precinct at East Street. What’s new? ‘The Wall’ that extends across the bikeway route behind the heritage Gasworks Retort House is at last being dismantled stone-by-stone. There are still quite a few steps to go but we reckon we can expect work to proceed apace & look forward to the path’s completion in the New Year!

Proposed new section of Bikeway – Chief/East St, Bowden.

3. Bike of the Month! Spotted on Semaphore Road, Anneka and her two children on their amazing Taga. Is it a trike? Or is it a stroller? Or maybe a shopping trolley? Who knows – we just think it’s great! In Anneka’s words, “best investment we ever made!”

Annika, 2 x kids & their Taga.

4. Outer Harbor Greenway Detour: While work proceeds on new housing around the Bowden gasworks sites, new detours between Gibson and Chief Streets have been announced, effective until February 2019. The map below seems more or less self-explanatory! We’re assured that the detours will be effectively signposted…

5. New Bike Lanes – Hart Street & Port Road: Work has started on the new roadway line markings and bike lanes on Hart Street, Semaphore and Port Road, Queenstown. Both these initiatives will provide ‘full time’ bike lanes (physically separated on Hart Street) with ‘buffer’ lanes to protect bicycle users from ‘dooring’! These are significant steps forward in making The Port a safer and more attractive environment for Active Transport users! We’ll be out and about taking a few snaps for our next blog post in January!

The Port needs ‘Integrated Transport Planning’!

6. A New Beginning for PA/E ‘Bike Planning’! The current PA/E Local Area Bike Plan will ‘run out’ in 2020. PortBUG has been talking to the Council about how we can complete the current Plan and tackle development of a new, post-2020 strategy. We feel that there is a great deal still to be completed from the current plan and that any new bike strategy really needs to be a ‘step up’ in terms of:

attention to detail, local ‘functionality’ and much greater ‘connectivity’ (especially for younger folk)

providing bike access for a wider range of residents, cycling abilities and needs

addressing major traffic management challenges associated with new industries, major housing developments, many more daily commuters, increased numbers of heavy vehicles & of course the new Port Dock Rail Station in the Port CBD!

Council have told us that after 2020 they want to establish an Integrated Transport Strategy that will consider bicycle use and Active Transport in the overall context of PA/E’s transport network. Hopefully this will turn out to be a good thing! We’re meeting with the Council’s CEO and senior staff tomorrow to discuss this along with some Key Issues & Recommendations. Stay tuned!

“Stakeholders also expressed concern with existing traffic calming treatments at the Belmore Terrace junctions with Dale Street, Park Street North and Hughes Street North. Narrow exit/entry points do not provide clear guidance for westbound cyclists on how to use the infrastructure. Further, priority has been given to road users entering Belmore Terrace rather than [those travelling] along Belmore Terrace. Council staff reported the existing configuration leads to conflict between cyclists and motorists. Stakeholder representatives recommended a treatment that encompasses the entire junction.”

In response to this recommendation City of Charles Sturt proposed raised intersections at the following junctions:

Dale Street

Park Street North and…

Hughes Street North

A raised intersection consists of a hump leading to a raised section of road pavement (about 10cm higher than the roads that lead to it) in the centre of the intersection. The humps are marked with ‘piano key’ markings to make the raised intersection more visible.

Raising the intersection of Park Street North and establishing a paved platform flush with the footpath may also contribute to reducing vehicle speeds, providing a more human scale environment and enhancing the ‘place narrative’ around the group of local shops.

We undertook community engagement with local residents and surrounding streets between 21 August and 12 September 2018.

In response to community feedback we kept the raised intersection design, but amended plans to remove paving from the top of the platforms and provide additional parking near the shops at Park Street North. Concept plans are attached [see link below].

Prior to proceeding to further, we seek feedback on the proposal from Outer Harbor Greenway bicycle users (the BUGs). Specifically, we seek feedback with regard to:

Whether users have concerns with the existing traffic control devices in Belmore Terrace, and…

The proposed raised intersection treatments.

Could you please forward this information to your networks and request feedback by Friday 16 November?

]]>https://portadbug.org/2018/11/06/portbug-your-feedback-sought-changes-to-ohgreenway/feed/1samsavvasPortBUG: Local Cycling Update, October 2018.https://portadbug.org/2018/10/30/portbug-local-cycling-update-october-2018/
https://portadbug.org/2018/10/30/portbug-local-cycling-update-october-2018/#respondTue, 30 Oct 2018 02:03:37 +0000http://portadbug.org/?p=5074Continue reading →]]>1. Invitation to a Special PortBUG Meeting: PortBUG’s November meeting this Thursday evening will be given over entirely to a discussion with Chris Dunn, Manager Design, Construction & Transport at Port Adelaide/Enfield Council. We’d like to invite our Blog Readers to come along and hear what Chris has to say. The meeting will be held upstairs in The Argo restaurant in Commercial Road, Port ADelaide, starting promptly at 7pm. Please let me know at portadbug@gmail.com if you intend coming!

We’ve asked Chris to provide updates on a number of current issues relevant to bike use and Active Transport generally, including:

an update on an ‘Access Improvement and Wayfinding Strategy’ for the Port CBD and Waterfront areas (including a Network Operation Study done by DPTI)

thoughts on the post-2020 Integrated Transport Strategy that will replace the PA/E Bike Plan

ideas and options for the staging of a Stage Finish for the Tour Down Under in the Port in January 2019.

2. Tilburg Cycleway Retrospective: The both the Dutch and the Danes – with all of their fantastic cycleways – had to start somewhere! For the Netherlands it was in 1977 with the construction in Tilburg of the first ‘Demonstration Cycling Route’ – a ‘showcase of what modern cycling infrastructure would have to be like’.

Mark Wagenbuur at Bicycle Dutch has posted a fascinating retrospective on this 5km route which I reckon might end up being very relevant to Adelaide as we consider how to best engineer bike routes connecting major urban centres within Adelaide. Probably of most interest are the two videos he has posted.

The first is a ‘then and now’ exercise, comparing a Danish film of the route from 1978 with new footage taken in 2018. The narrator and the footage clearly explain how cycleway philosophy and key design principles in the Netherlands have developed and evolved. We can learn a lot from this! The second is a cyclist’s view of the entire route with subtitles at key points explaining what we’re looking at! Again, worth sitting down with a cuppa and watching! This is important documentation of a pivotal moment in cycleway design and commitment in the Netherlands which ended up having a major impact in transport thinking and design across Europe and very relevant to Adelaide too!

3. PortBUG’s Facebook Forum: We have a great facebook group happening at the Port Adelaide Bicycle Forum. We now have nearly 80 followers there and we encourage you to join up as another way of staying in touch! The photo below, featured recently on the Forum, illustrates some interesting – if somewhat illegal – ‘cargo-bike action’ on the Outer Harbour Greenway! Yes – that’s a full-sized 6×4 trailer!

Cargo-biking on the Outer Harbor Greenway…

]]>https://portadbug.org/2018/10/30/portbug-local-cycling-update-october-2018/feed/0samsavvasElection Update: Cycling & Active Transport – What the Candidates Say!https://portadbug.org/2018/10/23/election-update-cycling-active-transport-what-the-candidates-say/
https://portadbug.org/2018/10/23/election-update-cycling-active-transport-what-the-candidates-say/#respondTue, 23 Oct 2018 00:01:41 +0000http://portadbug.org/?p=5065Continue reading →]]>As of today, Oct 23rd , voting slips for the Port Adelaide/Enfield 2018 Council Elections are on their way to your letterboxes (voting closes on November 9th). Over the last few weeks PortBUG (via our facebook forum) have been inviting Councilor and Mayoral candidates to provide statements of their interest in, understanding of and ambitions for bicycle use and Active Transport across the Port Adelaide/Enfield Council Area. Thus far we have received 16 statements, all posted at the top of our facebook group page. If you are interested in the future of bicycle use and Active Transport across the Port Adelaide/Enfield Area we encourage you to read the statements from Candidates for your ward and for the Mayoral role prior to casting your votes! Because not everyone uses facebook we thought it might be useful to summarise these statements in a regular PortBUG news post… so read on!

Joost Den Hartog (Port Adelaide): “My name is Joost Den Hartog. I am a council candidate for the Port Adelaide ward. I have a great interest in bicycle and public transport infrastructure and believe that purposeful foot and bike traffic increases the social connectivity of neighbourhoods. My wife Christie Anthoney and I opened The Pear Neighbourhood Cafe in Alberton early this year with the purpose to give locals a place to walk/cycle to and meet each other. Since the cafe started we have met so many people who have been living around us for many years whom we hadn’t had a chance to meet before. As a immigrant from the Netherlands, I was brought up in society that is centered around locality and bicycle use. If elected to council, I will be an advocate for this model and hopefully be able to bring some of the benefits I know so well to our beautiful council area. I would like to see a new council that is diverse and progressive and that values equality. If you want to meet me to discuss things, please come to The Pear on 49 Sussex Street, Alberton. I am there most days and would love to hear your views, or just talk about bikes (I own a few :-))” https://www.facebook.com/pg/Joostdenhartog/about/

Joint statement – Mr Colin Johns (Mayor), Mr Steve Vines (Port Adelaide), Mr Kyall Smith (Semaphore): “‪Thank you for offering the opportunity to address your membership regarding our views on active forms of transport – cycling, walking and running. ‪Active transport not only makes you more active and reduces the number of cars on our roads it also offers you the opportunity to engage with your community and the local environment. We believe that Council’s are well positioned to be able to make improvements to our active transport networks. While we are fortunate enough to live in a Council area that has completed their section of the Coast Park path, many other connections and links are incomplete and/or missing entirely. ‪These include poor connections preventing multi-mode transport around our train stations and bus interchanges, bike lanes that just end and poor integration into the suburbs. ‪You do not have to look overseas for long to see active transport done well, equally you do not have to look far to see it done poorly; see Frome Street Bike Way (Adelaide City Council). This highlights why it is imperative to consult widely and bring the community along with the project. Even if people do not use the infrastructure directly, they will still benefit from safer roads with less cars. ‪We would support the newly elected council to review all active transport infrastructure within the council boundary to identify areas of improvement. Fund a series of bike repair and drink stations along the Coast Park, Outer Harbour Greenway and Anna Rennie loop path. Improve bike storage lockers at local train stations and bus interchanges. ‪We welcome the opportunity to meet with your members to discuss any suggestions for improvements or any other ideas a future council should consider.” https://www.facebook.com/kyallsmith4semaphore/ & https://www.facebook.com/Vines4PortAdelaide/ & https://www.facebook.com/ColinJohns4PortEnf/

John Le Raye (Mayor): “As a candidate for Mayor, I will support a review of all active transport infrastructure within the council boundary. There will be a strong focus on SAFETY. All maintenance and improvements, will be done in consultation with the community and interested groups.” https://www.facebook.com/JohnForAction/?ref=bookmarks

Paul Russell (Klemzig): “The Port Adelaide Bicycle Users Group has asked candidates for Council in PAE to comment on what is known as Active Transport and to offer our thoughts. Active transport includes non-motorised forms of transport involving physical activity, such as walking and cycling. It also includes public transport for longer distance trips, as public transport trips generally include walking or cycling components as part of the whole journey.I most certainly support the Council’s Local Area Bicycle Plan 2015-2020 which was developed and finalized during the last Council.Cr Tony Barca and I were greatly disappointed with the recent State Government Budget decision not to proceed with the new OBAHN Park and Ride carpark at the Klemzig Interchange. Since the OBAHN tunnel opened earlier this year, the numbers of patrons accessing the bus service via Klemzig alone has increased to a point where more than 200 extra vehicles are parking in adjacent streets each work day. This marks the great success of the Busway and new tunnel, but the lack of appropriate parking is becoming a major issue that we will continue to work on into the future if re-elected.We cannot simply continue to develop transport infrastructure in such an ad-hoc fashion. Moreover, the fact that these patrons are driving to the Klemzig Interchange suggests that they have no other option either to travel to Klemzig or to their endpoint, without the use of a vehicle.In Klemzig Ward we are fortunate to have the only section of Linear Park that is within the Council area right on our doorsteps. This is a great asset. But even here we have seen, in recent times, the need for upgrading of street and place names along the track for safety and ease of access for emergency vehicles. A motion presented by Cr Barca and myself a few months ago will see additional signage rolled out in coming months.I certainly support the integration of the principles of Active Transport within Council’s planning and development frameworks. https://www.facebook.com/PaulforKlemzig/?__tn__=kCH-R…

Martyna Janczak (Northfield): “As a candidate and local in the Northfield Ward, I believe that supporting alternative forms of transport, including cycling is essential in all development planning. Cycling not only helps people stay fit and healthy, it also reduces pollution, and helps keep our environment clean and green. I would like to see more bike paths integrated into new and existing developments, making it safer for cyclists to use the roads, and encouraging more people to utilise cycling as another form of transport.” https://www.facebook.com/martyna4northfieldward/

Michelle Hogan(Semaphore): “I have represented residents in the Semaphore Ward for the last four years as a first term Councillor and I am seeking re-election so that I can use that experience in a further term.We are so fortunate having such a great range of community groups working across the council area and I have really appreciated working with PortBUG members and utilising the expertise you bring to improving our active transport options – so thank you all for your great work and the community education role you play. Your input has provided us with a great Bike Plan and your yearly strategic priorities have delivered steady outcomes.I have been especially pleased to support the Hart St redevelopment and the Causeway Rd Bikeway and to see it nearing completion. The development of the whole Outer Harbour Greenway has been a great achievement and I am very happy to keep working with you to improve promotion and signage so that we can encourage active use.The success with attracting the Tour Down Under into the Port offers us a continued opportunity to promote OHG and active transport options in the council area more generally. Local bike maps which feature parks and toilets and promote our waterfront bikeway and signage and better on road lanes are all important to encouraging new users and providing safe facilities for them. The defence contract will bring new pressures on our major transport routes and I look forward to working with your group in developing our bike plan beyond 2020.” https://www.facebook.com/MichelleHoganCouncil/

Claire Boan (Mayor): “Thanks for this opportunity! I am a recreational and family cyclist and have been an advocate for making our city an accessible city. I have been an elected member for 8 years and during this time have been excited by the progress of our area in providing for cyclists and pedestrians. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to continue advocating for making our entire council area cycle friendly. Please like my FB page for continued information throughout my campaign.” https://www.facebook.com/claireformayor/

David Wilkins (Semaphore): “Thanks for the chance to discuss active transport in our local area. It’s pleasing to see people taking an interest in our local government elections!Supporting active transport is a no-brainer for me, for the litany of reasons you’ve outlined in your letter, website and blog. We know it supports improved health and wellbeing outcomes, provides a much cheaper and more environmentally friendly transport option, creates more socially inclusive communities and the list goes on…Of course, the key challenge is shifting people’s behaviour to embrace more active transport options and this requires a genuine, partnership approach between all three levels of government. We know from examples overseas that until we make a serious and significant investment in active transport infrastructure, in comparison to our road network, we are very unlikely to see changes in people’s behaviour, along with the associated benefits, as you highlight in your letter. We need to make active transport options viable, safe and attractive if we’re serious about shifting people’s behaviour in a meaningful way.At a local level, things like improved lighting and signage, linking infrastructure with key destinations and other transport options (i.e. public transport) and providing practical assistance which promotes active transport (i.e. bike racks/storage areas, tool kits, water and public toilet facilities) would contribute towards making active transport options attractive to people.In other words, you have my support – thank you for all the work you, and the PortBUG do in advocating and promoting active transport. Oh, and for the reminder to get the front tyre of my bike fixed!” https://www.facebook.com/davidforsemaphore/?hc_location=ufi

Rachel Hehir (Semaphore): “I have two boys and I agree that I’d love to be able to get them to ride to school when they get older.I’m also mortified by the rates of childhood obesity. These are big issues and I’m not about blame but about actions.I’m running in Semaphore and you have my support.” Https://www.facebook.com/Rachel4Sema4

Rachel Murphy (Semaphore): “Thanks for the opportunity to comment on active travel options in the City of Port Adelaide Enfield. My family is a ‘one-car’ family as we try to use active transport options as often as possible. Whilst I’m not personally a great rider, we all walk, ride, scoot and catch public transport as much as possible and advocate these choices with others.My personal interest in our council is to have safe bikeways for young people to encourage riding to school. Thanks for your great work and dedication to improved active transport. You’ve had a great deal of success recently and if elected I’d love to work with PortBUG on the next steps.” www.facebook.com/RachelMurphyforCouncil

Jess Ljevakovic (Parks): “Thank you for the opportunity to touch base with your community group. As a candidate for the Parks Ward, I feel that the Parks area has been overlooked in numerous ways and while improvements have been made we still have a long way to go as a community to encourage active transport and healthy living. As a Mother to four young children, I would love to see more and safer cycling options available locally along with areas encouraging beginner level riders to get involved and build confidence.Within the Parks Ward there is a lack of public toilets and drinking fountains in public spaces which I would like to see rectified to encourage both active transport and to encourage other outdoor activities. While personally I have minimal cycling experience, instead preferring long distance running, however, I would love to see the activity continue to grow within our entire community and if elected, I will support projects which benefit our cycling community.I encourage members to contact me via email with any feedback regarding our community, especially within the Parks Ward.” jess.ljevakovic@outlook.com

Martina Thompson (Port Adelaide Ward): “I support further development and future planning of Active Travel options. I would be committed to initiatives that encourage a greater uptake of walking, cycling, access to public transport, public transport as a preferred option for travel and expansion of the Greenway. I would like to see Active Travel become the preferred means of getting to a destination, particularly for short local trips reducing the reliance on car usage.I am a sometimes cyclist and I enjoy riding for leisure and fitness, especially along purpose-built bikeways that are away from main roads and beautified with nature strips and shade trees. https://www.facebook.com/MartinaThompsonPortAdelaideWard/

Ashley Tippins (Semaphore): “Thanks for the chance to discuss active transport in our local area and ways it can be improved. We all know that encouraging people to walk and ride bikes improves mental health and wellbeing and should be encouraged. Taking the time to be active in our transport rather than just getting into a car is a good thing. It is better for us and better for the environment. Greening of areas with more trees on median strips and sidewalks and reducing speed limits from 60kph to 50kph or 40kph is something I will actively pursue within the CPAE. Providing improved lighting, greening of areas, signage and facilities such as secure bikes racks, water and public toilet facilities it encourages active transport.” https://www.facebook.com/ashleytippinsforsemaphore/

We hope to receive a few more statements over the next day or so and will post updates as they arrive. Don’t forget to check out our facebook Port Adelaide Bicycle Forum too!

For your information as a voter in the forthcoming local government elections, PortBUG is pleased to provide a summary of candidate’s statements of support for bicycle use and Active Transport from 12 of our Port Adelaide/Enfield candidates. To read the summary please click here.

All PA/E candidates listed at the LGA site (apart from 3 who had not provided email addresses) were emailed an invitation to comment and indicate their support for planning and investment in bicycle use and active transport over the coming Council term. They were also provided with a written outline of some of the challenges facing Active Transport across the PA/E area.

With 4 days to go before the start of the voting period 12 responses have been received across both Mayoral candidates and those standing across 4 of the Wards (Port Adelaide, Semaphore, Klemzig and Northfield). If more are received prior to the start of voting they will be added to this summary!

Note: Some particularly lengthy statements have been edited for brevity (but retaining all key points made). If you’d like to read candidate statements in full please refer to the top-of-page Candidate Statement Announcement at the Port Adelaide Bicycle Forum.